1946 United States Senate elections - Wikipedia

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1946 United States Senate elections

← 1944 November 5, 1946 1948 →
1947 (MS) →
36 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Wallace White Alben Barkley Party Republican Democratic Leader since February 25, 1944 July 22, 1937 Leader's seat Maine Kentucky Seats before 39 56 Seats won 51 45 Seat change 12 11 Popular vote 15,489,926 12,062,433 Percentage 54.0% 42.0% Seats up 11 24 Races won 23 13   Third party   Party Progressive Seats before 1 Seats won 0 Seat change 1 Seats up 1 Races won 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (N. Dak. and Va.): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Alben Barkley Democratic Elected Majority Leader Wallace White Republican

The 1946 United States Senate elections were held November 5, 1946, in the middle of Democratic President Harry S. Truman's first term after Roosevelt's passing. The 32 seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, and four special elections were held to fill vacancies. The Republicans took control of the Senate by picking up twelve seats, mostly from the Democrats. This was the first time since 1932 that the Republicans had held the Senate, recovering from a low of 16 seats following the 1936 Senate elections.

The vote was largely seen as a referendum on Truman, whose approval rating had sunk to 32%^[1] over the president's controversial handling of a wave of post-war labor strikes, such as a nationwide railroad strike in May, at a time when Americans depended on train service for both commuter and long-distance travel. Just as damaging was Truman's back-and-forth over whether to end unpopular wartime price controls to handle shortages, particularly in foodstuffs. For example, price controls on beef had led to a "hamburger famine," but when Truman, in a surprise move, lifted the controls on October 14—just weeks before the election—meat prices shot up to record levels.^{[citation needed]}

This is only one of two occasions in U.S. history that 10 or more Senate seats changed hands in a midterm election (the other being in 1958), and also one of five occasions where 10 or more Senate seats changed hands in any election, with the other occasions being in 1920, 1932, 1958, and 1980.

The president's lack of popular support is widely seen as the reason for the Democrats' congressional defeat, the largest since they were trounced in the 1928 pro-Republican wave that brought Herbert Hoover to power.^[2][3] And for the first time since before the Great Depression, Republicans were seen as the party which could best handle the American economy.

However, the Republicans also benefited from what today would be called "a good map," meaning that of the one-third of Senate seats up for election, the majority were held by Democrats. Besides the Republicans being able to hold onto all of their seats, this was the party's largest senate gain since 1920.

↓

45	51
Democratic	Republican

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties				Total
Democratic	Republican	Other
Last elections (1944)	57	38	1	96
Before these elections	56	39	1	96
Not up	32	28	0	60
Up	24	11	1	36
	Class 1 (1940→1946)	21	10	1	32
Special: Class 2	3	1	—	4
Incumbent retired	4	4	—	8
	Held by same party	3	4	—	7
Replaced by other party	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican	—	1
Result	3	5	0	8
Incumbent ran	20	7	1	28
	Won re-election	9	6	0	16
Lost re-election	7 Democrats replaced by 7 Republicans	—	7
Lost renomination but held by same party	1	1	—	2
Lost (re)nomination and party lost	3 Democrats replaced by 3 Republicans 1 Progressive replaced by 1 Republican	4
Result	10	18	0	28
Total elected	13	23	0	36
Net change	11	12	1	12
Nationwide vote	12,062,433	15,489,926	1,142,765	28,695,124
	Share	42.04%	53.98%	3.98%	100%
Result	45	51	0	96

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives^[4]

Three Republicans and five Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

One Republican, one Progressive, and ten Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8
D18	D17	D16	D15	D14	D13	D12	D11	D10	D9
D19	D20	D21	D22	D23	D24	D25	D26	D27	D28
D38 Md. Ran	D37 Idaho (sp) Ran	D36 Fla. Ran	D35 Del. Ran	D34 Ariz. Ran	D33 Ala. (sp) Retired	D32	D31	D30	D29
D39 Mass. Ran	D40 Miss. Ran	D41 Mo. Ran	D42 Mont. Ran	D43 Nev. Ran	D44 N.M. Ran	D45 N.Y. Retired	D46 Ohio (reg) Ohio (sp) Retired	D47 Pa. Ran	D48 R.I. Retired
Majority →	D49 Tenn. Ran
R39 Vt. Ran	P1 Wis. Ran	D56 Wyo. Ran	D55 W.Va. Ran	D54 Wash. Ran	D53 Va. (sp) Retired	D52 Va. (reg) Ran	D51 Utah Ran	D50 Texas Ran
R38 N.D. (reg) Ran	R37 N.J. Ran	R36 Neb. Ran	R35 Minn. Ran	R34 Mich. Ran	R33 Maine Ran	R32 Ky. (sp) Retired	R31 Ind. Retired	R30 Conn. (reg) Conn. (sp) Retired	R29 Calif. (reg) Calif. (sp) Ran
R19	R20	R21	R22	R23	R24	R25	R26	R27	R28
R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9
	R1 N.D. (sp) Elected[a]	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8

	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8
D18	D17	D16	D15	D14	D13	D12	D11	D10	D9
D19	D20	D21	D22	D23	D24	D25	D26	D27	D28
D38 N.M. Re-elected	D37 Miss. Re-elected	D36 Md. Hold	D35 Fla. Elected[b]	D34 Ariz. Re-elected	D33 Ala. (sp) Hold	D32	D31	D30	D29
D39 R.I. Hold	D40 Tenn. Re-elected	D41 Texas Re-elected	D42 Va. (reg) Re-elected	D43 Va. (sp) Hold	D44 W.Va. Re-elected	D45 Wyo. Re-elected	R51 Wis. Gain	R50 Wash. Gain	R49 Utah Gain
Majority →
R39 Vt. Elected[b]	R40 Del. Gain	R41 Idaho (sp) Gain	R42 Mass. Gain	R43 Mo. Gain[c]	R44 Mont. Gain	R45 Nev. Gain	R46 N.Y. Gain	R47 Ohio (reg) Gain Ohio (sp) Gain	R48 Pa. Gain
R38 N.D. (reg) Re-elected	R37 N.J. Re-elected	R36 Neb. Re-elected	R35 Minn. Hold	R34 Mich. Re-elected	R33 Maine Re-elected	R32 Ky. (sp) Hold	R31 Ind. Hold	R30 Conn. (reg) Conn. (sp) Hold	R29 Calif. (reg) Calif. (sp) Elected[b]
R19	R20	R21	R22	R23	R24	R25	R26	R27	R28
R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9
	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8

Key	D# Democratic P# Progressive R# Republican

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1946, ordered by election date, then state.

State	Incumbent	Results	Candidates
Senator	Party	Electoral history
North Dakota (Class 3)	Milton Young	Republican	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected June 25, 1946.	▌ Milton Young (Republican) 55.5% ▌William Lanier (Democratic) 27.4% ▌Gerald Nye (Independent) 15.2%
Alabama (Class 2)	George R. Swift	Democratic	1946 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 5, 1946. Democratic hold.	▌ John Sparkman (Democratic) Unopposed
California (Class 1)	William Knowland	Republican	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected November 5, 1946. Winner also elected to next term; see below.	▌ William Knowland (Republican) 74.3% ▌Will Rogers Jr. (Democratic) 15.9% ▌George H. McLain (Democratic) 3.12%[5]
Connecticut (Class 1)	Thomas C. Hart	Republican	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 5, 1946. Republican hold. Winner also elected to next term; see below.	▌ Raymond E. Baldwin (Republican) 55.8% ▌Joseph M. Tone (Democratic) 41.0% ▌Frederic C. Smedley (Socialist) 3.2%[6]
Idaho (Class 2)	Charles C. Gossett	Democratic	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost nomination. New senator elected November 5, 1946. Republican gain.	▌ Henry Dworshak (Republican) 58.6% ▌George E. Donart (Democratic) 41.4%
Kentucky (Class 2)	William A. Stanfill	Republican	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 5, 1946. Republican hold.	▌ John Sherman Cooper (Republican) 53.3% ▌John Y. Brown Sr. (Democratic) 46.5%
Ohio (Class 1)	James W. Huffman	Democratic	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 5, 1946. Republican gain. Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.	▌ Kingsley A. Taft (Republican) 56.2% ▌Henry P. Webber (Democratic) 43.8%[7]
Virginia (Class 2)	Thomas G. Burch	Democratic	1946 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 5, 1946. Democratic hold.	▌ A. Willis Robertson (Democratic) 68.2% ▌Robert H. Woods (Republican) 29.0%

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1947; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State	Incumbent	Results	Candidates
Senator	Party	Electoral history
Arizona	Ernest McFarland	Democratic	1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Ernest McFarland (Democratic) 69.2% ▌Ward S. Powers 30.1%
California	William Knowland	Republican	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected. Winner also elected to finish term; see above.	▌ William Knowland (Republican) 54.1% ▌Will Rogers Jr. (Democratic) 44.2% ▌Douglas Corrigan (Prohibition) 1.62%[5]
Connecticut	Thomas C. Hart	Republican	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. Winner also elected to finish term; see above.	▌ Raymond E. Baldwin (Republican) 55.8% ▌Wilbur Lucius Cross (Democratic) 40.5% ▌Frederic C. Smedley (Socialist) 3.3%[6]
Delaware	James M. Tunnell	Democratic	1940	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ John J. Williams (Republican) 55.2% ▌James M. Tunnell (Democratic) 44.9%
Florida	Spessard Holland	Democratic	1946 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected.	▌ Spessard Holland (Democratic) 78.7% ▌J. Harry Schad (Republican) 21.4%
Indiana	Raymond E. Willis	Republican	1940	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold.	▌ William E. Jenner (Republican) 54.9% ▌M. Clifford Townsend (Democratic) 43.4%
Maine	Owen Brewster	Republican	1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Owen Brewster (Republican) 63.6% ▌Peter M. MacDonald (Democratic) 36.5%
Maryland	George L. P. Radcliffe	Democratic	1934 1940	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	▌ Herbert O'Conor (Democratic) 50.2% ▌D. John Markey (Republican) 49.8%
Massachusetts	David I. Walsh	Democratic	1918 1924 (Lost) 1926 (special) 1928 1934 1940	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (Republican) 59.6% ▌David I. Walsh (Democratic) 39.7%
Michigan	Arthur Vandenberg	Republican	1928 (special) 1928 1934 1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Arthur Vandenberg (Republican) 67.1% ▌James H. Lee (Democratic) 32.0%
Minnesota	Henrik Shipstead	Republican	1922 1928 1934 1940	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican hold.	▌ Edward J. Thye (Republican) 58.9% ▌Theodore Jorgenson (DFL) 39.8%
Mississippi	Theodore G. Bilbo	Democratic	1934 1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Theodore G. Bilbo (Democratic) Unopposed[8]
Missouri	Frank P. Briggs	Democratic	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ James P. Kem (Republican) 52.7% ▌Frank P. Briggs (Democratic) 47.1%
Montana	Burton K. Wheeler	Democratic	1922 1928 1934 1940	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ Zales Ecton (Republican) 53.5% ▌Leif Erickson (Democratic) 45.4%
Nebraska	Hugh A. Butler	Republican	1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Hugh A. Butler (Republican) 70.8% ▌John E. Mekota (Democratic) 29.2%
Nevada	Edward P. Carville	Democratic	1945 (Appointed)	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ George W. Malone (Republican) 55.2% ▌Berkeley L. Bunker (Democratic) 44.8%
New Jersey	H. Alexander Smith	Republican	1944 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ H. Alexander Smith (Republican) 58.5% ▌George E. Brunner (Democratic) 40.1%
New Mexico	Dennis Chávez	Democratic	1935 (Appointed) 1936 (special) 1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Dennis Chávez (Democratic) 51.5% ▌Patrick J. Hurley (Republican) 48.5%
New York	James M. Mead	Democratic	1940	Incumbent retired to run for New York Governor. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ Irving Ives (Republican) 52.6% ▌Herbert H. Lehman (Democratic) 47.6%
North Dakota	William Langer	Republican	1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ William Langer (Republican) 53.3% ▌Arthur E. Thompson (Independent) 23.5% ▌Abner B. Larson (Democratic) 23.2%
Ohio	James W. Huffman	Democratic	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. Winner was not elected to finish the term; see above.	▌ John W. Bricker (Republican) 57.0% ▌James W. Huffman (Democratic) 42.4%[7]
Pennsylvania	Joseph F. Guffey	Democratic	1934 1940	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ Edward Martin (Republican) 59.3% ▌Joseph F. Guffey (Democratic) 39.8%
Rhode Island	Peter G. Gerry	Democratic	1934 1940	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	▌ J. Howard McGrath (Democratic) 55.1% ▌W. Gurnee Dwyer (Republican) 44.9%
Tennessee	Kenneth McKellar	Democratic	1916 1922 1928 1934 1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Kenneth McKellar (Democratic) 66.6% ▌William B. Ladd (Republican) 26.2%
Texas	Tom Connally	Democratic	1928 1934 1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Tom Connally (Democratic) 88.5% ▌Murray C. Sells (Republican) 11.5%
Utah	Abe Murdock	Democratic	1940	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ Arthur V. Watkins (Republican) 51.2% ▌Abe Murdock (Democratic) 48.8%
Vermont	Ralph Flanders	Republican	1946 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected.	▌ Ralph Flanders (Republican) 74.6% ▌Charles P. McDevitt (Democratic) 25.4%
Virginia	Harry F. Byrd	Democratic	1933 (Appointed) 1933 (special) 1934 1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Harry F. Byrd (Democratic) 64.9% ▌Lester S. Parsons (Republican) 30.5%
Washington	Hugh Mitchell	Democratic	1945 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected. Republican gain. Incumbent resigned December 25, 1946. Winner appointed December 26, 1946, to finish term.	▌ Harry P. Cain (Republican) 54.3% ▌Hugh Mitchell (Democratic) 45.2%
West Virginia	Harley M. Kilgore	Democratic	1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Harley M. Kilgore (Democratic) 50.3% ▌Thomas Sweeney (Republican) 49.7%
Wisconsin	Robert M. La Follette Jr.	Progressive	1925 (special) 1928 1934 1940	Incumbent lost renomination as a Republican. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌ Joseph McCarthy (Republican) 61.3% ▌Howard J. McMurray (Democratic) 37.4% ▌Edwin Knappe (Socialist) 1.2%
Wyoming	Joseph C. O'Mahoney	Democratic	1933 (Appointed) 1934 1940	Incumbent re-elected.	▌ Joseph C. O'Mahoney (Democratic) 56.2% ▌Harry B. Henderson (Republican) 43.8%

Ten races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State	Party of winner	Margin
Maryland	Democratic	0.4%
West Virginia	Democratic	0.6%
Utah	Republican (flip)	2.4%
New Mexico	Democratic	3.0%
New York	Republican (flip)	5.0%
Missouri	Republican (flip)	5.6%[d]
Kentucky	Republican	6.8%
Montana	Republican (flip)	8.1%
Washington	Republican (flip)	9.1%
California	Republican	9.9%

1946 United States Senate special election in Alabama

← 1942 November 5, 1946 1948 →

Nominee John Sparkman Party Democratic Popular vote 163,217 Percentage 100%

County results Sparkman:      100%

U.S. senator before election John Bankhead II Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Sparkman Democratic

1946 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Ernest McFarland Ward S. Powers Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 80,415 35,022 Percentage 69.18% 30.13%

County results McFarland:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Ernest McFarland Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ernest McFarland Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Ernest McFarland ran for re-election to a second term, easily defeating Republican Ward S. Powers in the general election.

1946 United States Senate election in California

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee William F. Knowland Will Rogers Jr. Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,428,067 1,167,161 Percentage 54.10% 44.22%

County results Knowland:      40–50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Rogers:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election William F. Knowland Republican Elected U.S. Senator William F. Knowland Republican

There were 2 elections for the same seat due to the January 16, 1945, death of Democrat Francis T. Maloney. Republican Thomas C. Hart was appointed February 15, 1945, to continue the term, pending a special election. Republican Governor of Connecticut Raymond E. Baldwin won both elections, but resigned only three years after the election to become a state judge.

1946 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1950 (special) →

Nominee Raymond E. Baldwin Joseph M. Tone Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 381,328 276,424 Percentage 55.84% 40.48%

Baldwin:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      90-100% Tone:      50–60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Thomas C. Hart Republican Elected U.S. Senator Raymond E. Baldwin Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Delaware

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee John J. Williams James M. Tunnell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 62,603 50,910 Percentage 55.15% 44.85%

County results Williams:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election James M. Tunnell Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John J. Williams Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Spessard Holland J. Harry Schad Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 156,232 42,408 Percentage 78.65% 21.35%

County results Holland:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Spessard Holland Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Spessard Holland Democratic

1946 United States Senate special election in Idaho

← 1942 November 5, 1946 1948 →

Nominee Henry Dworshak George E. Donart Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 105,523 74,629 Percentage 58.57% 41.43%

County results Dworshak:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Donart:      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election Charles Gossett Democratic Elected Senator Henry Dworshak Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee William E. Jenner M. Clifford Townsend Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 739,807 584,288 Percentage 54.91% 43.36%

County results Jenner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Townsend:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Raymond E. Willis Republican Elected U.S. Senator William E. Jenner Republican

1946 United States Senate special election in Kentucky

← 1942 November 5, 1946 1948 →

Nominee John Sherman Cooper John Y. Brown Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 327,652 285,829 Percentage 53.27% 46.47%

County results Cooper:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Brown:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election William A. Stanfill Republican Elected U.S. Senator John Sherman Cooper Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Maine

← 1940 September 9, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Owen Brewster Peter McDonald Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 111,215 82,665 Percentage 63.55% 36.45%

County Results Brewster:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% McDonald:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Owen Brewster Republican Elected U.S. Senator Owen Brewster Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Herbert O'Conor D. John Markey Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 237,232 235,000 Percentage 50.24% 49.76%

County results Markey:      50–60%      60–70% O'Conor:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election George L. P. Radcliffe Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Herbert O'Conor Democratic

1946 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. David I. Walsh Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 989,736 660,200 Percentage 59.55% 39.72%

Lodge:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100% Walsh:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election David I. Walsh Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Republican

Republican Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. defeated incumbent David I. Walsh.

1946 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Arthur Vandenberg James H. Lee Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,085,570 517,923 Percentage 67.06% 32.00%

County results Vandenberg:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Arthur Vandenberg Republican Elected U.S. Senator Arthur Vandenberg Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Edward J. Thye Theodore Jorgenson Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 517,775 349,520 Percentage 58.92% 39.78%

County results Thye:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Jorgenson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Henrik Shipstead Republican Elected U.S. Senator Edward J. Thye Republican

1946 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Mississippi

← 1940 July 2, 1946 1947 (special) →

Nominee Theodore G. Bilbo Tom Ellis Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 97,820 58,005 Percentage 51.00% 30.24%   Nominee Ross A. Collins Nelson T. Levings Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 18,875 15,720 Percentage 9.84% 8.20%

County results Bilbo:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Ellis:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Theodore G. Bilbo Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Theodore G. Bilbo Democratic

1946 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee James P. Kem Frank P. Briggs Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 572,556 511,544 Percentage 52.71% 47.09%

County results Kem:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Briggs:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Frank P. Briggs Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James P. Kem Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Zales Ecton Leif Erickson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 101,901 86,476 Percentage 53.47% 45.38%

County results Ecton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Erickson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      No data

U.S. senator before election Burton K. Wheeler Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Zales Ecton Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Hugh A. Butler John E. Mekota Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 271,208 111,751 Percentage 70.82% 29.18%

County results Butler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Mekota:      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Hugh A. Butler Republican Elected U.S. Senator Hugh A. Butler Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Nevada

← 1942 (special) November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee George W. Malone Berkeley L. Bunker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 27,801 22,553 Percentage 55.21% 44.79%

County results Malone:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Bunker:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Edward P. Carville Democratic Elected U.S. Senator George W. Malone Republican

1946 United States Senate election in New Jersey

← 1944 (special) November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee H. Alexander Smith George E. Brunner Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 799,808 548,458 Percentage 58.50% 40.12%

County Results Smith:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80–90% Brunner:      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election H. Alexander Smith Republican Elected Senator H. Alexander Smith Republican

1954 United States Senate election in New Mexico

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Dennis Chavez Patrick J. Hurley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 68,650 64,632 Percentage 51.51% 48.49%

County results Chevez:      50–60%      60–70% Hurley:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Dennis Chavez Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez Democratic

1946 United States Senate election in New York

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Irving Ives Herbert Lehman Party Republican Democratic Alliance Liberal American Labor Popular vote 2,559,365 2,308,112 Percentage 52.58% 47.42%

County results Ives:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Lehman:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election James M. Mead Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Irving M. Ives Republican

The New York state election was held on November 5, 1946.

The Socialist Labor state convention met on April 7 and nominated Eric Hass for the U.S.Senate.^[14] The party filed a petition to nominate candidates under the name "Industrial Government Party."

The Liberal Party gathered 51,015 signatures and filed a petition to nominate candidates with the Secretary of State on September 2.^[15]

The Republican state convention met on September 4 at Saratoga Springs, New York. They nominated Assembly Majority Leader Irving M. Ives.^[16]

The Democratic state convention met on September 4 at Albany, New York, and nominated Ex-Governor Herbert H. Lehman (in office 1933–1942) for the U.S. Senate.^[17]

The American Labor state convention met on September 3 and endorsed Lehman.^[18] Fielding, Chapman and Abt were withdrawn from the ticket on September 5, and Democrats Corning, Young and Epstein substituted on the ticket.^[19]

The Socialist Workers Party filed a petition to nominate candidates headed by Farrell Dobbs for Governor.

The Industrial Government, Socialist and Socialist Workers tickets were not allowed on the ballot because of "defective nominating petitions." The Court of Appeals upheld the decisions of the lower courts.^[20]

The whole Republican ticket was elected in a landslide.

Obs.:

• "Blank, void and scattering" votes: 178,694

1946 United States Senate election in North Dakota

← 1944 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee William Langer Arthur E. Thompson Abner B. Larson Party Republican Independent Democratic Popular vote 88,210 38,804 38,368 Percentage 53.34% 23.46% 23.20%

County results Langer:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election William Langer Republican Elected U.S. Senator William Langer Republican

First-term Republican William Langer was re-elected to a second term. Langer would be re-elected twice more, serving until his 1959 death.

1946 United States Senate special election in North Dakota

← 1944 June 25, 1946 1950 →

Nominee Milton Young P. W. "Bill" Lanier Gerald Nye Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 75,998 37,507 20,848 Percentage 55.54% 27.41% 15.24%

County results Young:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Milton Young Republican Elected U.S. Senator Milton Young Republican

Newly-elected Democrat John Moses had died March 3, 1945, and Republican state senator Milton Young was appointed March 12, 1945, to continue the term, pending a special election. Young was elected June 25, 1946, to finish the term that would end in 1951. Young would go on to be elected 5 more times, serving until his 1981 retirement.

There were 2 elections to the same seat due to the September 30, 1945, resignation of Republican Harold H. Burton.

Democrat James W. Huffman was appointed to continue the term, pending a special election in which Huffman was not a candidate. Huffman was, however, nominated to the regular election,^[23] which he lost.

1946 United States Senate election in Ohio

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee John W. Bricker James W. Huffman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,275,774 947,610 Percentage 57.02% 42.36%

U.S. senator before election James W. Huffman Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John W. Bricker Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Edward Martin Joseph F. Guffey Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,853,458 1,245,338 Percentage 59.26% 39.81%

County results Cooke:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Guffey:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Joseph F. Guffey Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edward Martin Republican

Incumbent Democrat Joseph F. Guffey lost re-election to Republican Edward Martin.

1946 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Kenneth McKellar William B. Ladd John Randolph Neal Jr. Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 145,654 57,237 11,516 Percentage 66.60% 26.17% 5.27%

County results McKellar:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Ladd:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Kenneth McKellar Democratic Elected U.S. senator Kenneth McKellar Democratic

1946 United States Senate election in Texas

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Tom Connally Murray Sells Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 336,931 43,750 Percentage 88.51% 11.49%

County Results[26] Connally:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Sells:      50–60% No vote:

U.S. senator before election Tom Connally Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Tom Connally Democratic

1946 United States Senate election in Utah

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Arthur V. Watkins Abe Murdock Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 101,142 96,257 Percentage 51.24% 48.76%

County results Watkins:      50–60%      70–80% Murdock:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Arthur V. Watkins Republican Elected U.S. Senator Arthur V. Watkins Republican

1946 United States Senate election in Vermont

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Ralph Flanders Charles McDevitt Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 54,729 18,594 Percentage 74.64% 25.36%

Municipality Results Flanders:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% McDevitt:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Ralph Flanders Republican Elected U.S. Senator Ralph Flanders Republican

Incumbent Republican Ralph Flanders successfully ran for re-election to a full term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic candidate Charles P. McDevitt.

1946 United States Senate election in Virginia

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Harry F. Byrd Sr. Lester S. Parsons Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 163,960 77,005 Percentage 64.8% 30.5%

County and Independent City Results Byrd:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      90-100% Parsons:      40-50%      50-60%

U.S. senator before election Harry F. Byrd Sr. Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd Sr. Democratic

Incumbent Harry F. Byrd Sr. was re-elected to a fourth term after defeating Republican Lester S. Parsons.

1946 United States Senate special election in Virginia

← 1942 November 5, 1946 1948 →

Nominee Absalom Willis Robertson Robert H. Woods Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 169,680 72,253 Percentage 68.15% 29.02%

U.S. senator before election Thomas G. Burch Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Absalom Willis Robertson Democratic

Appointed Democrat Thomas G. Burch retired after filling the vacancy caused by the May 28, 1946, death of Democrat Carter Glass. Democrat Absalom Willis Robertson defeated Republican Robert H. Woods and was elected to finish Glass's term.

1946 United States Senate election in Washington

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Harry Cain Hugh Mitchell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 358,847 298,683 Percentage 54.34% 45.23%

County results Cain:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Mitchell:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Hugh Mitchell Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harry Cain Republican

1946 United States Senate election in West Virginia

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Harley M. Kilgore Thomas Sweeney Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 273,151 269,617 Percentage 50.33% 49.67%

County results Kilgore:      50–60%      60–70% Sweeney:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Harley M. Kilgore Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harley M. Kilgore Democratic

1946 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Joseph McCarthy Howard J. McMurray Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 620,430 378,772 Percentage 61.28% 37.41%

County results McCarthy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% McMurray:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Robert La Follette, Jr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy Republican

Three-term incumbent Republican Robert La Follette Jr. lost renomination to Joseph McCarthy, who then won the general election.

}

1946 United States Senate election in Wyoming

← 1940 November 5, 1946 1952 →

Nominee Joseph C. O'Mahoney Harry B. Henderson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 45,843 35,714 Percentage 56.21% 43.79%

County results O'Mahoney:      50–60%      60–70% Henderson:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Joseph C. O'Mahoney Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney Democratic

• 1946 United States elections
  • 1946 United States gubernatorial elections
  • 1946 United States House of Representatives elections
• 79th United States Congress
• 80th United States Congress

• New York: "RECORD FOR DEWEY IN OFFICIAL COUNT; His 687,151 Majority Topped Lehman's 627,388 in 1932; Won in 1942 by 173,254". The New York Times. December 14, 1946.